Basic Details
Word: Hypochondria
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A condition where a person worries a lot about having a serious illness, even when they are healthy.
Synonyms: Health anxiety, illness anxiety disorder
Antonyms: Confidence, assurance
Idioms and Phrases
- Making a mountain out of a molehill: Making something seem much worse than it is. Example: "She often makes a mountain out of a molehill when she thinks she has caught a cold."
- Worrying oneself sick: To become so anxious about something that it affects your health. Example: "He was worrying himself sick over every little ache and pain."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Her hypochondria made her visit the doctor every week, even when she felt fine.
Example 2: Sometimes, his friends joked that his hypochondria was becoming a bit over the top, as he often feared serious diseases.
Example 3: She needed to address her hypochondria because it was causing unnecessary stress in her life.
Fun Fact
The term "hypochondria" comes from the Greek words "hypo," meaning "under," and "chondros," meaning "cartilage," which refers to the area of the body beneath the ribcage where a lot of anxiety about health tends to manifest.
Famous Quote
"The greatest of follies is to sacrifice health for any other kind of happiness." Arthur Schopenhauer
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "hypochondria" mean?
a) A type of flower
b) A mental condition where one worries excessively about health
c) A kind of music
d) A sport
Answer: b) A mental condition where one worries excessively about health
2. Which of these is a synonym of "hypochondria"?
a) Health anxiety
b) Happiness
c) Joy
d) Contentment
Answer: a) Health anxiety
3. Which of the following is an antonym of "hypochondria"?
a) Confidence
b) Worry
c) Stress
d) Concern
Answer: a) Confidence
4. Which sentence uses "hypochondria" correctly?
a) His hypochondria helped him win the spelling bee.
b) She visited the doctor because her hypochondria made her worry about her health.
c) I enjoy learning about hypochondria in science class.
d) Hypochondria is a delicious food.
Answer: b) She visited the doctor because her hypochondria made her worry about her health.
5. Which idiom relates to "hypochondria"?
a) Making a mountain out of a molehill
b) As busy as a bee
c) A piece of cake
d) Break the ice
Answer: a) Making a mountain out of a molehill
